Academic Programs Catalog

College of Education

Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education

Graduate Study
School Psychology - Educational Specialist

The Educational Specialist degree program in school psychology is designed for persons who plan to devote their professional careers to school psychological services and who desire to achieve a level of proficiency that will enable them to assume leadership roles.  The program consists of a planned sequence of courses, practica, and internship experiences that are complemented by graduate study in educational psychology and supporting disciplines.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the College of Education, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

An individual should have a bachelor's degree in psychology or education or substantial course work in psychology or education to be considered for admission. A person with a master's degree in psychology or a related field may also apply for admission.

To be admitted to the program, a person with a bachelor's, but not a master's, degree must have a minimum grade–point average of 3.0 (B) for the last two years of undergraduate work. A person with a master's degree must have a minimum grade–point average of 3.5 (B+) for prior graduate work. An admissions interview may be required.

Applicants should provide a written statement to the effect that they will be available to serve an internship of 1200 clock hours (30 weeks). For employment in other states, an internship of nine months may be required.

Persons are admitted to the program only for fall semester.  The deadline for submitting applications for admission is January 15th for the following fall semester. 

Requirements for the Educational Specialist Degree in School Psychology

Students must meet the requirements specified below. Students who hold a Master of Arts degree in School Psychology may already meet some of these requirements.

1. All of the following courses (36 credits):
a. School Psychology (15 credits):
All of the following courses:
CEP 880 Cognitive Assessment 3
CEP 881 Social and Emotional Assessment and Intervention 3
CEP 884 Roles and Functions of School Psychologists 3
CEP 886 Psychological Assessment and Intervention I 3
CEP 888 Theories of Child Psychotherapy 3
b. Special Education (18 credits):
All of the following courses:
CEP 809 Data-Driven Instruction within Multi-Tiered Systems of Support 3
CEP 840 Policies, Practices, and Perspectives in Special Education 3
CEP 841 Classroom and Behavior Management in the Inclusive Classroom 3
CEP 844 Applied Behavior Analysis for Teachers 3
CEP 801A Collaboration and Consultation in Special Education 3
CEP 804B Advanced Diagnosis and Remediation for Students with Literacy Disabilities 3
c. Statistics (3 credits):
CEP 932 Quantitative Methods in Educational Research I 3
2. Two enrollments of the following course (6 credits):
CEP 893K Practicum in School Psychology 3
3. Two enrollments of the following course (6 credits):
CEP 894K Internship in School Psychology 3
4. Complete 12 credits of electives, 3 of which must address working with families, as approved in consultation with the student's advisor.